Wednesday, March 09, 2011

On March first, the blooms on the Yellow Fumewort down in our woods had not yet opened

Yellow Fumewort

(Corydalis flavula)

Other common names: Yellow Corydalis and Yellow Harlequin.

A native herbaceous perennial with a small (.5"/1.3cm or so) bright yellow flower that blooms early and continues blooming for a couple of months. The plant ranges from ground cover height up to around 15"/38cm.

Range and Habitat: Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan in the west to New York in the east, southward to Florida and Louisiana. (USDA Range map) Found in open woods, primarily on rocky or sandy soil.

Herbal Lore: As is typical for a member of the Poppy order, Yellow Fumewort contains alkaloids. Native Americans placed the root on coals and inhaled the smoke to "clear the head". In earlier times, doctors may have used the astringent root to stop bleeding, for irregular menses, pain, diarrhea and dysentery. These past medicinal uses of Corydalis flavula are presented only for their historical value. Even small doses of Corydalis may be toxic. Symptoms include trembling and convulsions.

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comments:

Spring is late this year just about everywhere (except here where there isn't any spring really at all.) It's a sweet yellow flower though and a brave one to show up so early.

Bill came in from outside a minute ago and I showed him your icy picture (in the post below). He said the red on the icicle is berry juice -- and I bet he's right. Anyway he agreed that the picture is amazing.

I've never seen that plant here, but perhaps because I haven't looked. Do you and Jo take your cameras with you when you go strolling about the property? I noticed that the first photo was yours and the second hers. I failed to notice, until today, that the beautiful photo of the berries in ice was a Jo photo. Well done, Jo.